Stay active

It's recommended that adults aged 19 to 64 do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more each week. This could include activities such as cycling or brisk walking.

If you have risk factors for osteoporosis or fractures, talk to your doctor.

You may need a bone check-up, known as a fracture risk assessment. This may include a bone density (DEXA or DXA) scan to help measure your bone strength (strength is about more than bone density).

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bone health

HRT can help to maintain bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

However, it's not recommended as a way to maintain bone strength for most women around the menopause.

One reason is that the beneficial effects of HRT on your bones wear off when you stop taking it (usually before the age of 60). So your bones won't have protection when you're older, which is when they really need it.

HRT also carries some risks, including a slightly higher risk of stroke. This means it's not suitable as a bone treatment in older women, whose risk of stroke is already higher.